Beyond stars: How MICHELIN Keys are raising the bar for hotels worldwide
Royal Malewane in Kruger National Park received a 3 Key rating from MICHELIN.
Image: Instagram
One hundred and twenty-five years since its inception, The MICHELIN Guide is redefining what outstanding hospitality truly means.
Previously best known for its Stars that recognise culinary excellence, the guide has introduced its MICHELIN Keys distinction to shine a light on the world's top hotels.
This new award isn’t about luxury per se; it’s about character, service, consistency, and offering an unforgettable stay.
With 7,000 hotels across the globe now honoured with One, Two, or Three Keys, travellers have a more rigorous, independent benchmark for choosing lodging than ever before.
What are the MICHELIN Keys?
- The Keys are awarded to hotels that meet five universal criteria: excellence in architecture & interior design; quality and consistency of service; overall personality and character; value for price; and a meaningful connection to the location or setting.
- Unlike stars which are reserved for restaurants, Keys evaluate the entire hospitality experience - going beyond amenities to assess how a hotel makes a guest feel and how it reflects its surroundings.
- Hotels are grouped by distinction level:
- One MICHELIN Key: A “very special stay” - originality, strong personality, service that exceeds expectations for its class.
- Two MICHELIN Keys: An “exceptional stay” - memorable in design, charm, attention to detail, local sense.
- Three MICHELIN Keys: An “extraordinary stay” - among the very best in the world: elegance, comfort, service, style, and often a destination in itself.
Global reach
- The MICHELIN Guide’s hotel selection spans over 7,000 properties in more than 125 countries.
- Among these, 2,457 hotels have now been awarded MICHELIN Keys: 1,742 with One Key; 572 with Two; and 143 with Three.
MICHELIN Keys in Africa
Africa features strongly in the inaugural MICHELIN Keys selection, with properties across countries including South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Mauritius, Seychelles, and others.
Highlights include:
- Three-Key hotels:
- Giraffe Manor in Kenya
- Kasbah Tamadot and La Mamounia in Morocco
- Zannier Sonop in Namibia
- Londolozi Game Reserve and Royal Malewane in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Two-Key hotels:
- Shipwreck Lodge in Namibia, located on the Skeleton Coast, combining stark desert and ocean landscapes with design inspired by historic shipwrecks.
Also included are historic riads in Morocco and beach resorts in Mauritius and Seychelles.
The range shows that MICHELIN Keys are about more than just safari lodges or ultra-luxury - it’s about diversity, culture, and character.
IOL Travel